Great Ideas on Finding Blog Topics When You’re Stuck
by McKenzie Stalkenburg
A blank screen. The cursor blinking ever so slowly. Your fingers tapping on the keyboard without really pressing them. The coffee beside your computer getting cold by the second. We've all been there. Whether it be writing a blog post or a thesis paper or a work report, there's nothing more frustrating than not knowing what to write about.
But if you're running a business website, you cannot not write regularly on the blog. You have to find great ideas to keep your content relevant. If you're working for or running a SEO company, your clients also expect you to come up with blog topics that will bring web traffic to their websites. So how exactly is this possible?
Keep a Notebook of Ideas
You cannot predict when inspiration will suddenly strike. One moment, you're sitting under the shade of a tree looking at your children play in the park. Then the next, your mind is racing with great ideas for a blog post. Keep up with these ideas by writing them down and researching them once you have the time. Organize your ideas and keep them where you can access it at all times: on Google Sheets, Word, Notes, and other tools.
Ask Your Community
Your community includes your customers, followers, employees, stakeholders, industry experts, and family and friends. Don't be afraid to ask them what they think you should write about. The main purpose of your blog is to help your customers, so why don't you ask them what they want to learn from you? Your employees will have great insights into what you should post on your blog, too. Don't hesitate to ask them for their opinions. The same goes for your family and friends.
Monitor Trending Hashtags
Open your Twitter account. Check out the trending hashtags. You'll learn a lot about what people are talking about by looking at the top trends on social media. Try to dissect these topics and see if they could give you some insights into what you should write about on your blog. The good thing about using trending topics is that you can contribute to what is already being talked about on social media. You can add your voice to the commentary.
Steal from Others
One of the best ways to come up with great blog topics is to look at what your competitors are writing about. Follow blogs that you want to emulate. Look for blogs that have a great readership and following. You can get a lot of ideas and inspiration from these blogs. While you should never copy the content of the blog, you can draw inspiration from the topics.
Check out Offline Sources
You should still check print media from time to time. You can learn a lot from magazines, newspapers, brochures, newsletters, pamphlets, and many more. Take time to read these printed materials and search for keywords that will work for your blog. Their published content can also be adapted to your online content, and vice versa.
Some of your blog posts are going to be better than others. Some are not going to fare as well as your top blogs. Don't be afraid to click on the publish button. The only way to measure how your audience is going to react is to get the blog out there.